Your support made my dream come true
I had always dreamed of pursuing my law degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. My acceptance brought excitement but also resulted in unease and raised concerns about how I would fund my legal education. I had always worked so I could pay for my post-secondary education. With my future undergraduate tuition in mind, I started work at the age of 16 doing custodial work, IT, and tutoring. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I also took on work at the campus library in an effort to be debt-free before law school. I realized, however, that if I was going to make the most of my legal education, I knew that working in law school was not as feasible as working had been before. Being able to pay my tuition seemed out of reach until I learned of the financial support available.
Attending this law school provides immense opportunity for learning and growth if one has the time to engage. Being able to participate in extra- and co-curricular activities has been a true learning experience for me, allowing me to grow as a legal researcher and give back to the communities I value, by assisting legal clinics and helping, to diversify the legal profession by enabling high school students to get excited about legal education. One highlight of my law school career thus far was the opportunity to volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada as an immigration law student for Toronto Employment and Immigration Law Services. I investigated country conditions for the advancement of various refugee claims and worked toward gaining foundational research and advocacy skills for my legal career. Taking on this volunteer position and engaging in other activities would not have been possible without your generous support as I would need to have a job so I could to pay for my tuition and living expenses.
After immigrating to Canada from Tanzania in 2001, my parents made many sacrifices and continue to work immensely hard to provide for my brother and me in our educational pursuits. But the assistance they can provide is limited. We’ve both worked multiple jobs in order to pay for our costly career aspirations in dentistry and law respectively. It is through your support that I am able to make the most of my legal education. Donor support will always mean a great deal to me. Thank you.